The final HSV GTSR W1 Maloo, one of Australia’s rarest performance vehicles, has emerged for sale nearly a decade after local Holden manufacturing ended. Finished in Heron White, this example, designated build E005, is one of only six known W1-specification Maloos. It is understood to be the final unit completed at Walkinshaw Performance’s former production facility.
Offered through Sydney-based automotive brokerage Chrome Temple, the vehicle has remained with its original owner. It is unregistered and has only delivery kilometres on the odometer. Remarkably, the Maloo retains its original factory protective wrapping and stickers, making it an exceptionally well-preserved piece of Australian motoring history.
No asking price has been disclosed. The vehicle is listed on a price-on-application basis. However, sales of other W1 Maloos provide a reference point. In January 2021, a Light My Fire orange example sold for $1.05 million. Another, with distinctive XU3 Yellah paint, reportedly changed hands for $1.2 million in December 2022. That vehicle, also unregistered with just 26km travelled, set a benchmark for road-going Holdens.
A Unique Conversion History
The vehicle has a distinct history. It was originally built as a 2017 HSV GTSR Maloo, carrying HSV build number 352 and an April 2017 compliance date. It was later converted to full W1 specification by Walkinshaw Performance. This transformation was finalized in 2023, with the car documented as Walkinshaw build E005—the final example in a sequence from E000 to E005.
According to Chrome Temple, E005 was the last W1-specification HSV completed at the Walkinshaw facility before the company relocated its operations. The W1 Maloo program began as HSV prepared to end Australian Commodore production with the formidable GTSR W1 sedan in 2017. The $169,990 sedan was the most powerful series-production vehicle ever made in Australia, producing 474kW and 815Nm.
The Powertrain and Engineering
The Maloo’s heart is the hand-built, supercharged 6.2-litre LS9 V8 engine. Originally developed for the sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, it features forged aluminium pistons, titanium connecting rods and inlet valves, dry-sump lubrication, and a 2.3-litre supercharger. It is paired exclusively with a close-ratio Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission and ZF Sachs twin-plate clutch.
The W1 package includes fixed-rate SupaShock dampers instead of the standard GTSR’s Magnetic Ride Control. It also uses AP Racing brakes with 410mm front rotors and six-piston callipers. The front guards are wider and incorporate carbon-fibre vents. Despite offering a 435kW GTSR Maloo, HSV never officially produced a W1-powered version of its ute due to engineering and certification costs and limited LS9 engine availability.
An Exceptional Collector’s Piece
Build E005 carries the complete W1 mechanical package. Externally, it features W1 badging and a shadow-chrome rear exhaust surround. The interior combines Jet Black upholstery with W1-specific Alcantara trim, embroidery, and a commemorative centre plaque. A dedicated W1 build plate is fitted in the door aperture.
The sale includes extensive documentation. This covers the vehicle’s provenance, including a Walkinshaw Certificate of Authentication signed by senior executives. Also included are original build receipts, photographic records of the conversion, original vehicle documentation, two W1 keys, and a dedicated car cover with the E005 number. A Victorian Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) engineering approval certifies it as a completed W1 specification vehicle.
The end of Commodore-based HSV production in 2018 marked the close of a 30-year partnership between the manufacturer and Holden. The final GTSR W1 sedan was retained by HSV. The specialised LS9 powertrain is no longer available, and the original Walkinshaw facility has ceased its former operations, making another example of this specification highly improbable.
